Sunil Gavaskar feels Pat Cummins will be 'big threat' to India in Test series

Indian batsman great Sunil Gavaskar believes Australian captain and pace boss Pat Cummins will be a real threat to the Rohit Sharma-led team in the upcoming four-match Test series starting on February 9. The world's highest-rated Test bowler, Cummins, finished the 2020–21 Test series against India with the most wickets and this year, with the added responsibility of leading the Australian team, will look to build on his previous performance and end Australia's 19-year drought by winning the Test series in India.

“If memory serves, he managed to take five wickets in the subcontinent for the first time (5/34 on debut against Sri Lanka in Galle, August 2011). Being the best bowler, Lyon will always be attacking and probing, but the real threat is likely to be the pacers. Cummins is a great bowler and as we have seen in the past when the Aussies are successful it is their pace attack that has done the damage,” Gavaskar said in an interview. 

Gavaskar believes Josh Hazlewood's absence will benefit India in Nagpur. Cameron Green will also miss the first Test, adding to Australia's injury woes. He is still recovering from a finger injury. "When the Aussies are successful, it is their pace attack that has done the damage. With Josh Hazlewood likely to miss the first Test with an injury, the advantage could lie with India," Gavaskar said.

"Both are great teams and you can't predict cricket. But as always the home side start with an advantage with crowd support, awareness of the terrain, weather and pitch conditions," Gavaskar added.